In short: An annuity is a series of equal regular payments that earn compound interest, like saving into an account every month. A loan works the same way backwards: the amount borrowed is the present value of all its repayments.
Starting point: Years 9 and 10
Building a balance table
An annuity is a series of equal payments made at regular times, with compound interest. Savings plans, superannuation and loans are all annuities.
Suppose you deposit 1000 dollars at the end of each year into an account paying 5% per year.
| Year | Start | Interest (5%) | Deposit | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1000 | 1000.00 |
| 2 | 1000.00 | 50.00 | 1000 | 2050.00 |
| 3 | 2050.00 | 102.50 | 1000 | 3152.50 |
After 3 years the account holds 3152.50 dollars. You paid in 3000 dollars, so 152.50 dollars is interest.
A loan table
A loan works the other way. Interest is added each period, then the repayment is taken away.
Borrow 2000 dollars at 1% per month and repay 700 dollars a month:
| Month | Start | Interest (1%) | Repayment | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000.00 | 20.00 | 700 | 1320.00 |
| 2 | 1320.00 | 13.20 | 700 | 633.20 |
| 3 | 633.20 | 6.33 | 639.53 | 0.00 |
The last payment is smaller: just enough to clear the debt.
- Deposits: savings
- Repayments: loans
- Interest then payment
- FV = M((1+r)ⁿ - 1)/r
- PV = FV / (1+r)ⁿ
- Reducing balance
- Repayment formula
- Value of 1 dollar
Quick summary
- An annuity is a set of equal regular payments with compound interest.
- Savings tables: add interest, then add the deposit. Loan tables: add interest, then subtract the repayment.
- and .
- A loan amount is the present value of its repayments.
- With a table of values for 1 dollar, multiply by the payment.
Quiz
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An annuity is:
- A a single deposit
- B a set of equal regular payments with compound interest
- C a type of simple interest
- D a tax
Show answer
B: a set of equal regular payments with compound interest
Savings plans and loans are annuities.
You deposit 500 dollars at the end of each year at 10%. What is the balance after 2 years?
- A 1000 dollars
- B 1050 dollars
- C 1100 dollars
- D 1155 dollars
Show answer
B: 1050 dollars
Year 1: 500. Year 2: .
A loan of 1000 dollars has 2% interest per month. After one month and a 300 dollar repayment, the balance is:
- A 700 dollars
- B 720 dollars
- C 714 dollars
- D 680 dollars
Show answer
B: 720 dollars
.